CTA Adjusts Lake Shore Express Routes for Efficiency

CTA removes Stratford stop for three Lake Shore express routes starting April 16

CTA Cuts Stop on 3 Lake Shore Routes

Riders on three Chicago Transit Authority express routes along Lake Shore Drive will need to use different stops starting in April. The CTA's eliminating the Stratford stop in both directions for routes #135, #146, and #151, effective April 16, transit officials said. The change affects the Inner Lake Shore Drive corridor, where riders will need to walk to nearby stops instead.

Context & Background

The stop elimination affects three express routes that serve the lakefront corridor between downtown and the North Side. Routes #135 Clarendon/LaSalle Express, #146 Inner Lake Shore/Michigan Express, and #151 Sheridan all currently stop at Stratford in both directions. Transit agencies typically eliminate stops to improve travel times and reduce operational costs, though officials haven't specified the reason for this particular change. The CTA periodically reviews stop locations based on ridership patterns and operational efficiency.

Key Details

Both the southbound and northbound stops at Inner Lake Shore Drive/Stratford will be eliminated. Southbound riders should instead use stops at Inner Lake Shore Drive/Cornelia or Inner Lake Shore Drive/Roscoe, according to the transit agency. Northbound passengers can board at Inner Lake Shore Drive/Cornelia or Inner Lake Shore Drive/Hawthorne. Officials haven't released data on how many daily riders currently use the Stratford stop or how the change will affect average trip times for the three routes.

Timeline & Implementation

The stop elimination takes effect Thursday, April 16, 2026. The CTA hasn't announced an end date for the change, indicating it's likely permanent. Transit officials typically post notices at affected stops several weeks before changes take effect, though the agency hasn't specified when signage will be updated at the Stratford location.

Rider Impact & Moovit

Riders who regularly use the Stratford stop will need to walk to alternative stops, adding travel time to their commutes. The nearest replacement stops are roughly two to three blocks away in each direction. Passengers can track real-time bus arrivals and plan trips with updated stop information through Moovit, which provides live updates for all CTA routes.